List of medical triads and pentads

The List of Medical Triads and Pentads is a compilation of notable triads and pentads used in medicine to help in the diagnosis of various diseases. These sets of three or five clinical signs, symptoms, or other medical findings are often associated with particular conditions, providing a heuristic to assist healthcare professionals in recognizing potential diagnoses.

Medical Triads

A medical triad consists of three signs, symptoms, or other clinical findings that often occur together and are characteristic of a specific medical condition.

Beck's Triad

• Associated condition: Cardiac tamponade
• Components:

 * Hypotension
 * Distended neck veins
 * Muffled heart sounds

Charcot's Triad

• Associated condition: Cholangitis
• Components:

 * Jaundice
 * Right upper quadrant pain
 * Fever

Cushing's Triad

• Associated condition: Increased intracranial pressure
• Components:

 * Hypertension
 * Bradycardia
 * Irregular respirations

Virchow's Triad

• Associated condition: Venous thrombosis
• Components:

 * Hypercoagulability
 * Hemodynamic changes (stasis, turbulence)
 * Endothelial injury/dysfunction

Saint's Triad

• Associated condition: Increased risk for intestinal obstruction
• Components:

 * Gallstones
 * Hiatal hernia
 * Diverticulosis

Medical Pentads

A medical pentad includes five related signs, symptoms, or findings that suggest a particular medical diagnosis.

Trousseau's Pentad

• Associated condition: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Components:

 * Fever
 * Anemia
 * Thrombosis
 * Ecchymosis
 * Proteinuria

Pentad of Preeclampsia

• Associated condition: Preeclampsia
• Components:

 * High blood pressure
 * Proteinuria
 * Swelling
 * Headaches
 * Visual disturbances

See also

• List of eponymous medical signs
• Medical diagnosis
• Symptom
• Sign (medicine)